Finally got my Ketostix and registered at Moderate. Yay! Guess I'm doing this Atkins thing right after all! I've also crossed the 10 lbs lost mark. Another yay! I started 30 April, so 3.5 weeks and I've lost about 10.6 lbs. I'm afraid to stop doing induction. Has anyone left induction? If so, how much have you been losing a week?

Way to go! I've never left induction while committed to Atkins, so I couldn't tell you. But my sister probably eats about 30 carbs give or take, and has continued to rapidly lose weight. :)

I cheated on Wednesday! I must have had about 60 carbs, because my roommate (who's also my ex) convinced me to try one 'Crispy Mini' and I couldn't stop! So yesterday I went grocery shopping and bought pork rhinds for the next time I encounter a situation like that. I also bought low-carb cake ingredients, and have been eating cake since 4am! :dizzy:
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/glazed_mw_poundcake.html
I made it with flax meal instead of almond powder, and it's pretty tasty and so hopefully my sister will like it on her birthday tomorrow. Next: Hamburger buns, so she can have an actual hamburger!

I think I'll probably just stick pretty much with induction. I'm not ever hungry, but I could go for some blueberries or something. So the ketostix were motivating last night when they registered at a moderate. Then this morning and again this evening I'm getting negative. I haven't changed my eating at all. Is this normal??

Ketostix are weird for me too. It seems the more water I drink the darker it registers. Are you drinking plenty of water?

In the morning I only have trace ketones, because I've been laying still all night. I notice another dip in the evening as well, because the day is ending and I begin to wind down and relax. I also eat a little more in the evening than the rest of the day. So it's totally normal! And like the user above posted, water inake can have an impact on your result. Personally, the more water I drink the lighter my result.

So the scale still hasn't budged very much over here! It's a bummer. But I'm late for my period and could be retaining water, in which case I might get a whoosh when it finally does come. :)

Good to hear that the Ketostix can be weird. I drink water all day long most days. I won't worry too much about it since I'm losing 3ish lbs a week pretty steadily. What do you all think is the best time to check it?

Ramra - I'll cross my fingers for you for your whoosh!

I'm not sure if we can get ketostix readily in the UK, but seem to be doing OK without them.

Induction 2 weeks ends today, got 21lbs to lose and have lost 5 - seems my metabolic resistance is around about average, which is reassuring! A week left until a week's holiday in Sicily...ah, pasta... :devil:

Have a great trip, ayesbiggerthanbelly! I took a trip out to Italy with my mom almost 10 years ago. Didn't go to Sicily, but went to Rome and Venice and some other parts up by the Italian Lakes. Best food I've ever had!! Definitely not Atkins friendly. Lol.

I'm going to Detroit next weekend. Not exactly the best vacation, but first trip ever with the hubby without the kids!

I lost another lbs yesterday!so rocking this induction! I may just never leave it. In two weeks I've gone from 250 to 238.4! Loose pants, clear skin, loads of energy....lovin' it!

With ketostix I don't register in the morning probably because my body is processing all the ketones for energy. It's not till around dinner time that I start to register moderate.

Congrats on your loss! I didn't lose nearly that in the first 2 weeks. I think it was about 6 lbs. But I've lost about 3 lbs every week. I don't mind if I can keep up that pace!

Maybe I'll just wait until later in the day to be checking it, then. Thanks!

Ramra. I'm totally with you today on cheating. I didn't actually eat any sugar or bready stuff but I ate more meat than I should have. I was going really well until about an hour or two after lunch and I started getting cravings like mad. I ate some pork rinds, some fake-sugar gelatin, burger meat with a blob of sour cream and stuff like that. I spent all day out and about so I am aching and sore from all the activity. I think that's why I went a bit crazy -- I was burning a lot of calories going form place to place and out in the sun etc. I am feeling kinda bad about it now but I know I can get back on track. I'm just bummed and feel like I failed.

everdeen: Way to go on the 4lb loss already! I know it's hard to feel like a winner when it seems like you're eating more than you should, but it's great that you're eating when you're hungry, especially when you've been running around all day! As long as your carbs are in check you'll continue to do awesome. I keep creeping up to 25-30 carbs each day when it's my intention to continue induction, so this morning I'm starting fresh and beginning induction again.

ghost:I just noticed your post, almost 12 lbs lost on induction?! Holy smokes! :cp:

Today is Day 6 and I am so fatigued and exhausted; I have no energy. Three things:

1) I'm still coming off Zoloft and I am down to 25 mgs every few days. I get some withdrawal symptoms like "dizzy jolts" when I go too long without it. I took one today as I haven't had it in a few days. Ugh.

2) Yesterday was exceptionally busy: we were out at WalMart at about 9 am, then I took my daughter to an indoor play place for 2 hours, then came back and got hubby and we all went out to a store grand opening where they had tents set up in the parking lot with a clown making balloon animals, a food truck, face painting etc. We spent a good hour there in the hot sun standing and walking around. When we got home my feet were aching bad and I was already depleted but I took a shower and after that we took a walk around the block to see my sister in law for a bit. I noticed on that walk how I was trailing behind my husband and daughter and it's usually the other way around. Last night I got ok sleep but not the best and woke up at about 4:30, then went back to sleep and got up at 5:30 and again went back to sleep etc. I also had a Charley Horse last night which I somehow caught in my sleep (push heels down and that usually cuts it off) so it didn't really hurt but it's been AGES (read many years) since I've had any leg cramps.

3) I am not eating enough veggies by any means or getting enough water. I have been eating a lot of meat with sour cream, butter, eggs, and cheese with a small (like a side) salad here and there. I am having trouble measuring salad for one. I just bought some broccoli and brussels sprouts and had those yesterday and the day before (one serving each, about). I know I'm not getting 12-15 carbs from veggies. I'm just having trouble gauging everything.

I keep yawning and it's a chore to get up and move at all. I am also a touch more out of breath when I have to walk a lot (like we went to Wal Mart again today to return something and I was just dragging myself around.) I should have my iron checked because I usually am borderline anemic but i thought with all the meats I've been having that iron shouldn't be an issue.

Any thoughts on all this? I didn't want to consume the salt that's recommended to avoid Atkins "flu" because I'm on blood pressure meds. *sigh*

The scale also said I gained a little weight back (probably due to my craziness yesterday with eating way too much stuff and not enough of the right stuff.)

BTW, is it ok for me to eat a bigger salad if I keep the dressing to the same amount? (I usually use 1 tablespoon of dressing and it's usually either 1 or 2 carbs depending on which one I want) Right now I'm eating a salad that's about 2 -3 times bigger than what I'd normally eat just to get more veg in me. This morning I had a sausage (a fat one) and a blob of sour cream for breakfast so this is lunch, I guess. (Should I have a hard boiled egg with it or just add more veggies to it or some olives and artichoke hearts etc.?)

Also, chicken broth -- good for the fatigue?

I hate measuring vegetables, but these are really easy to remember:

Romaine lettuce hearts: 6 leaves = 2 carbs
Celery: 2 medium stalks = 3 carbs
Cabbage: 1 cup chopped = 3 carbs
Large bell pepper: cut in 1/2 = 3 carbs

My blood pressure dropped quickly when I originally started Atkins. You should get it checked today and then decide if you can afford to add salt to your diet.

As for the weight gain, it's probably water retention in your muscles from all the aches and pains of yesterday. :)

everdeen - If you can make it through a couple of days eating induction approved foods, you'll get your energy back! I wasn't very motivated my first week/part of 2nd week because I was tired and hungry all the time. Well not hungry exactly - I just wanted junk food. But by the end of the 2nd week I was feeling great! Zoloft is a bummer. I used to be on all kinds of meds like that and I think they did more harm than good! Just keep it up and you'll be feeling great (and losing weight) in no time!